The First Green-Certified Home in Washington State
Wendy Jans’ home is truly a pioneer home. That’s because it’s the first house in Washington State that is certified under the National Association of Homebuilders Green Building Standard. Her Lindal, which the Seattle Times calls “the gold standard of green,” is meticulously solar-sited. Seattle Cedar Homes – a Lindal Cedar Homes dealership – worked closely with Wendy to plan and guide construction of the building and ensure it met certification standards. Working with her dealer, Tom Schuch of Seattle Cedar Homes, and a verifier from Green Dog Enterprises, her home was able to earn certification from the NAHB, as well as by the government-backed ENERGY STAR® Homes program and by Built Green®, a non-profit program of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. Professional salvager Olympia Salvage partnered with expert green builders of MC Construction to deconstruct her old home and recycle or re-use all of the material in her new custom Lindal home.
Energy-Efficient Savings “If I was going to do it, I wanted to do it right,“ Wendy said of the design of her eco-friendly green home. As a result of her commitment, the house is supremely energy efficient. Wendy managed to offset the cost of higher-end interior finishing options by gaining tax credits for recycling material from the former home on the site. Additional savings come from reduced lifecycle costs in terms of energy and maintenance. Because the interior is lit with natural light, the house uses less electricity. Efficient and allergy-free radiant heat ensures the house stays warm. A metal roof waters the “rain garden” and protects the home from the elements.
Wendy is thrilled that her beautiful home adheres to the green testing and certification requirements. According to recent studies, a green-certified home has enhanced resale value. However, Wendy has no intention of moving.
This home stands a block from Lake Washington. It features a peek-a-boo view of the lake from the second-floor master suite. The rear of the house overlooks a greenbelt. The basement contains a light-filled yoga studio that opens onto the back yard, and a second kitchenette and bathroom.
The first green-certified home in Washington State is a Lindal Cedar Home. As with all Lindal homes, it has a Lifetime Structural Warranty.
GREEN HOME FEATURES
- Dual-flush toilets and low-flow faucets
- Sustainably-harvested bamboo and cork flooring
- In-floor radiant heat
- Zero-VOC paint
- Low-E argon-filled triple-pane Lindal windows (lots of them!)
- Energy-star rated lighting and appliances
- Cellulose insulation batts
- Composite decking “Green” cabinetry uses sustainably harvested wood and low-emission adhesives (custom-crafted in the Seattle area)
- Set up with solar rooftop panels for a future solar hot water system
